Lubbock National Merit scholars share their plans

Many people may think of the pharmaceutical industry as a shady outfit that cares more about profits than public health.

George Huang, a Lubbock High School senior, said he aims to change that perception. Founding a pharmaceutical company is among his aspirations after he graduates high school.

"I know that you hear about people not being able to afford their medicine," Huang said. "I hope to make the medical field more ethical and conscientious in general."

As he begins his biomedical engineering major next year, Huang will have a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship to help supplement the cost of college at one of two Ivy League universities he plans to attend.

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. announced Tuesday that Huang was on a list of more than 2,500 high school students to win the scholarship, given for academic excellence.

Lubbock High senior Tara Viswanathan and Frenship High School senior Maggie Mulcahy also earned the scholarship. And with the scholarship comes the prestigious title of Merit Scholar, a designation for about 8,200 finalists.

The national competition started in 2006 when more than 1.4 million juniors took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The highest-scoring test takers were named semifinalists, including 16 high school students in Lubbock Independent School District and three at Frenship High. Only 16,000 semifinalists had the chance to continue in the competition, according to the corporation.

To become a finalist, students are evaluated on their academic records, an essay, extracurricular activities and a recommendation written by a school official.

"I was shocked; I wasn't expecting it at all," said Huang, who has been accepted to Yale University but hopes his wait-list status at Harvard University will be lifted so he can attend college there. "I know it is very selective."

Mulcahy, the Frenship High student, credited her teachers for inspiring her to do well enough to achieve the award.

"They are really happy to be teaching," said Mulcahy, who will major in computer science at the University of Southern California and is interested in possibly working in the video game industry. "You get to see why they like the subject they teach."

Viswanathan said she had to study to reap her National Merit reward. Huang and Mulcahy agreed.

"It's something that you really have to want," said Viswanathan, who will study business at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and hopes to open her own business . "Anyone can do it as long as they are not afraid to put a little effort into it."

The corporation plans to make an announcement about more scholarship awards July 14.